Sat, Aug 29, 2026

Beats for a Cure

Cleveland, OH

Registration openAnnual since at least 2025

Entry is $40 now and rises to $45 after Aug 29, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Beats for a Cure

This race takes place inside the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo during the Asian Lantern Festival, so the course runs past glowing lantern displays rather than through a typical park setting. The entry fees support childhood cancer research at a local children's hospital, and there is a fundraising component where runners can gather sponsorships from friends, family, and businesses.

Registration and packet pickup open race morning at a spot just inside the zoo entrance, so there is no separate pre-race trip required if you skip the advance option. After the race, your zoo admission carries through the rest of the day, and there are raffle prizes and snacks at the finish area.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2025 results

118finishers

20:24winner

35:03median

1:07:15cutoff

Top 3: Johnathan Shanklin (20:24) · Pedro Ortiz (21:51) · Jason Beltran (21:54)

The Beats for a Cure has been held every year since at least 2025. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 5K results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K8/29/2026 08:30$40

1 Mile Walk8/29/2026 08:30$30

Spectator8/29/2026 08:30$12

5K8/29/2026 08:30$50

Going for a Time?

Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.

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Common Questions About the Beats for a Cure

Will I finish last at the Beats for a Cure?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 35:03, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:07:15, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Beats for a Cure a good first 5K?

It is a small race (118 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 5K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Beats for a Cure?

The 5K winner ran 20:24 while the median finisher took 35:03. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.